BALTIMORE
— Former Cy Young award winner Mike Flanagan died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head, the Maryland medical examiner ruled Thursday. A police investigation revealed that the 59-year-old pitcher was upset about financial issues. He left no note.

Flanagan’s body was found Wednesday afternoon about 250 feet behind his home. An investigation showed he was home alone when he took his life.

Flanagan won the Cy Young Award in 1979 and helped the Baltimore Orioles win the 1983 World Series. After his retirement, he worked for the Orioles as a coach and in the front office before settling into a job as color commentator on the team’s broadcast network.

Flanagan was scheduled to work this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees.

“He was looking forward to broadcasting the Yankees series coming up. He was doing something he loved,” said Jim Duquette, who teamed with Flanagan from 2005-07 to attempt to rebuild the Orioles.

According to police, Alex Flanagan last spoke to her husband about 1 a.m. Wednesday. She told police he sounded upset, and he promised he would talk to her later.

When Alex Flanagan did not hear from her husband, she called a neighbor to check on him. The neighbor went to the home and called 911 after failing to find him.

Police discovered a body on the property but could not immediately determine the identity because the wounds were so severe.

There was a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium on Thursday before New York faced the Oakland Athletics. Flanagan’s picture was posted on the video board.

Flanagan was a crafty left-hander who went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA over 18 seasons with Baltimore and Toronto.

He was 141-116 with Baltimore and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame. Flanagan was also the final Oriole to pitch at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore’s home from 1954-1991.

During that appearance out of the bullpen, Flanagan struck out Detroit’s Dave Bergman and Travis Fryman, much to the delight of the 50,700 fans that filled the old ballpark one last time.

“He was a wonderful individual and a true Oriole who led by example, played the game with class and brought a lot of happiness to Orioles’ fans over his career. He will be missed tremendously by so many people,” said Mike Gibbons, executive director of Sports Legends Museum & the Babe Ruth Birthplace.

The Flanagan family issued this statement Thursday: “We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve. A private memorial will be held at a later date.”

___

Associated Press writer Alex Dominguez in Baltimore and Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York contributed to this report.

PHILADELPHIA
— They have four aces, two former MVPs and a roster stacked with guys who’ve made numerous All-Star teams and earned plenty of awards.

It’s no surprise the Philadelphia Phillies are heading toward their fifth straight NL East title and have the best record (83-45) in baseball. But for all the high-profile talent in red pinstripes, the no-name guys have been just as vital to Philadelphia’s success.

“I think when players get a chance, they always come around,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “I shouldn’t say always. There are guys who come around. Vance is definitely one of those guys. Bastardo is one of those guys. Stutes is one of those guys. And definitely Mayberry is one of those guys. Mayberry has been sent out three times, and all of a sudden, he’s starting to hit the ball and he’s in a good streak. His talent is coming out. That’s kind of how I look at Vance as a pitcher.”

Injuries have been a problem. Three of the five members of the projected starting rotation have spent time on the disabled list with Joe Blanton missing most of the season. Six of the eight original regulars have also been on the DL at one point. The bullpen was so decimated that the Phillies were down to their fourth closer (Bastardo) in the first half.

Overall, 15 players have been on the DL for 20 stints. And, the Phillies still keep winning thanks to the fill-ins who’ve come up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the bottom-of-the-roster guys who’ve stepped up when called upon.

“You don’t expect to see so many injuries in a season and see a bunch of guys come up,” Worley said. “But that’s basically what Triple-A is, it’s basically guys that belong in the big leagues, too, and when something like that happens, they’re going to be here.”

The Phillies and their fans, who’ve sold out the last 203 home games, won’t be satisfied with anything less than winning the World Series. High expectations certainly don’t make it any easier on the rookies and backups.

“No, it ain’t easy,” Worley said. “It’s always tough to come up and fill in shoes, and when the team is expected to win, you’re going to feel a little bit of pressure. But once you get those runs on the board, it takes a little stress off your shoulders.”

When the Phillies opened the season, Domonic Brown was the one rookie expected to play a major role. Brown was supposed to replace Jayson Werth as the everyday right fielder. Werth signed as a free agent with Washington. But Brown began the season on the DL and struggled when he was healthy. He was sent back to Triple-A when the Phillies acquired Pence from Houston.

Meanwhile, Mayberry was sent to the minors three times after getting the game-winning hit in the season opener. Now he’s found a spot as the fourth outfielder and backup first baseman.

Mayberry has started four games at first base, 11 in left field, 22 in center and six in right. He credits a new, open stance with helping him stay on the ball better.

“He’s been huge,” Howard said. “He’s come up offensively, defensively, whatever he did this offseason hitting-wise, it’s definitely worked for him. It’s been a dramatic change since last year.”

Mayberry is playing so well he’s making it difficult for Manuel to take him out of the lineup when everyone is healthy. He could end up platooning with the left-handed hitting Raul Ibanez in left field. Ibanez, who has been bothered by a sore grain, is batting .236 with 16 homers and 65 RBIs in 436 at-bats. Mayberry has 12 homers and 41 RBIs in only 197 at-bats.

“I look at John and he’s kind of like in a Jayson Werth situation,” Manuel said. “That’s a very good comparison. The more he does, the more he’s going to get to play and the more room we’ll find for him to play.”

The veteran Valdez and Martinez, a Rule 5 pickup, filled in at second base when Utley missed the first two months. They’ve had to handle third base when Polanco was on the DL two separate times, and now they’re sharing time at shortstop in Rollins’ absence.

Valdez even picked up a victory on the mound, tossing a scoreless inning in a 19-inning victory over Cincinnati in May.

“Any time I get a chance to play,” Valdez said, “I want to go out there and do my best and enjoy the game and win.”

The Phillies are six games ahead of Atlanta in the East, and have led the division nearly wire-to-wire. They’re 19 wins away from setting a single-season franchise record.

PHILADELPHIA
— With weather a concern in Pennsylvania throughout the weekend, the Phillies elected to move Sunday’s game vs. Florida at Citizens Bank Park to Saturday, creating a day-night doubleheader with the Marlins.

Gametimes on Saturday are set for 1:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m. All tickets for the Sunday game will be honored for the day game. Tickets for the regularly scheduled game will be honored for the night game.

The series, weather permitting, will begin on Friday, as scheduled, with a 7:05 p.m. game.

BALTIMORE
— Former Cy Young award winner Mike Flanagan died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head, the Maryland medical examiner ruled Thursday. A police investigation revealed that the 59-year-old pitcher was upset about financial issues. He left no note.

Flanagan’s body was found Wednesday afternoon about 250 feet behind his home. An investigation showed he was home alone when he took his life.

Flanagan won the Cy Young Award in 1979 and helped the Baltimore Orioles win the 1983 World Series. After his retirement, he worked for the Orioles as a coach and in the front office before settling into a job as color commentator on the team’s broadcast network.

Flanagan was scheduled to work this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees.

“He was looking forward to broadcasting the Yankees series coming up. He was doing something he loved,” said Jim Duquette, who teamed with Flanagan from 2005-07 to attempt to rebuild the Orioles.

According to police, Alex Flanagan last spoke to her husband about 1 a.m. Wednesday. She told police he sounded upset, and he promised he would talk to her later.

When Alex Flanagan did not hear from her husband, she called a neighbor to check on him. The neighbor went to the home and called 911 after failing to find him.

Police discovered a body on the property but could not immediately determine the identity because the wounds were so severe.

There was a moment of silence at Yankee Stadium on Thursday before New York faced the Oakland Athletics. Flanagan’s picture was posted on the video board.

Flanagan was a crafty left-hander who went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA over 18 seasons with Baltimore and Toronto.

He was 141-116 with Baltimore and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame. Flanagan was also the final Oriole to pitch at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore’s home from 1954-1991.

During that appearance out of the bullpen, Flanagan struck out Detroit’s Dave Bergman and Travis Fryman, much to the delight of the 50,700 fans that filled the old ballpark one last time.

“He was a wonderful individual and a true Oriole who led by example, played the game with class and brought a lot of happiness to Orioles’ fans over his career. He will be missed tremendously by so many people,” said Mike Gibbons, executive director of Sports Legends Museum & the Babe Ruth Birthplace.

The Flanagan family issued this statement Thursday: “We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve. A private memorial will be held at a later date.”

___

Associated Press writer Alex Dominguez in Baltimore and Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York contributed to this report.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.
— The Detroit Tigers have placed first baseman Miguel Cabrera on the paternity leave list and recalled catcher Omir Santos from Triple-A Toledo.

The moves were made before Thursday’s game at Tampa Bay.

Cabrera is expected to rejoin the team on Friday, according to Tigers manager Jim Leyland.

Santos was the listed starter for Thursday’s game. Alex Avila had started the previous 18 games at catcher.

Avila, who entered Thursday hitting .418 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 20 games this month, is set to catch all three games of a series that starts Friday night at Minnesota.

Catcher Victor Martinez has been limited to designated hitter because of a sore left knee. Leyland didn’t rule out Martinez being ready for some catching work in the next week or so.

Also, outfielder Brennan Boesch was out of Thursday’s lineup and will undergo tests on his sprained right thumb. He left Wednesday’s game because of the injury.

“I think (Wednesday night), what was going on, trying to protect the thumb some, he was getting pain up his arm,” Leyland said. “I don’t think it’s very good. Obviously, he had to come out of the game.”

BALTIMORE
— Mike Flanagan, a former Cy Young winner and part of the Baltimore Orioles’ 1983 World Series championship team, has died. He was 59.

Authorities found a body outside Flanagan’s home in Monkton, Md., on Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, the Orioles confirmed that Flanagan — who served the team as a pitcher, front office executive and television broadcaster — was dead.

“I am so sorry to hear about Mike’s passing. He was a good friend and teammate,” said Hall of Fame third baseman Cal Ripken Jr., a former teammate of Flanagan’s. “… Mike was an Oriole through and through and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans. This is a sad day.”

Flanagan was a crafty left-hander who went 167-143 with a 3.90 ERA over 18 seasons with Baltimore and Toronto. He didn’t possess an overpowering fastball, but won a fair share of games by depending on a slow curve, a sinker and a changeup.

An All-Star in 1978, Flanagan received the Cy Young Award with the Orioles in 1979 after going 23-9 with a 3.08 ERA and five shutouts. The Orioles lost the World Series that year in seven games to Pittsburgh.

“He’s one of our family. A great friend, competitor, whit, funny, hysterical, talented,” former teammate and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer said after doing the Orioles’ telecast Wednesday night in Minneapolis. “He was a breath of fresh air with his humor, his insight all those things. He was just a terrific guy.”

Flanagan played for Baltimore’s 1983 championship team, finishing 12-4 despite missing nearly three months with ligament damage in his left knee.

He was 141-116 with Baltimore and is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame. Flanagan was also the final Oriole to pitch at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore’s home from 1954-1991.

“Since the day I was given the number 46 I’ve had thousands of people tell me that that was the number of their favorite pitcher for the Orioles when they were growing up,” Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie said. “From Day One I think I’ve been reminded of the legacy and the work that Mike did not only as a player, but as a member of the community in Baltimore.”

Flanagan’s career with Toronto was not as profound. Traded from Baltimore to the Blue Jays on August 31, 1987, for pitchers Oswaldo Peraza and Jose Mesa, he went 3-2 with Toronto that season, then 13-13 and 8-10.

He signed as a free agent with Baltimore in 1991 and pitched out of the bullpen during his final two seasons.

After his playing career, Flanagan worked as the Orioles’ vice president for baseball operations and executive VP. He teamed with Jim Duquette in the front office from 2005-07 in an effort to make Baltimore a winner.

“We spent hour after hour, day after day, trying to improve the Orioles,” Duquette said late Wednesday night. “What stood out to me was his love for the Orioles and Baltimore. He was just so passionate about trying to get the Orioles back to where they were.”

Duquette said he was “devastated and heartbroken” to learn of Flanagan’s death.

“I just talked to him yesterday,” Duquette said. “He was looking forward to broadcasting the Yankees series coming up.”

In recent years, including this season, Flanagan did color commentary for the team’s TV network, combining his wry sense of humor with a knowledge of the game that came from decades of experience.

“It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of my friend Mike Flanagan earlier this evening,” Orioles owner Peter Angelos said in a statement. “In over a quarter century with the organization, Flanny became an integral part of the Orioles family, for his accomplishments both on and off the field. His loss will be felt deeply and profoundly by all of us with the ballclub and by Orioles fans everywhere who admired him.”

Flanagan grew up in Manchester, N.H., and pitched for the University of Massachusetts before being drafted by the Orioles in the seventh round of the 1973 draft. He made his major league debut in 1975. From 1977 through 1983, he made more starts (223) than any pitcher in the American League and was third in wins (109) during that span.